Program Purpose

Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree (A professional degree would include a degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry). For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.

Eligibility Requirements

Show exceptional financial need;

Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or meet other standards your state establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education (See the financial aid administrator at the college or university for more information);

Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program (students may not receive aid for correspondence or telecommunications courses unless they are part of an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree program);

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;

Have a valid Social Security Number;

Make satisfactory academic progress;

Sign a statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) certifying that federal student aid will only be used for educational purposes;

Sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that the student is not in default on a federal student loan and that the student does not owe money back on a federal student grant; and

Register with the Selective Service, if required (If you are a male 18 through 25 years of age and you have not yet registered with Selective Service, you can give Selective Service permission to register you by checking a box on the FAFSA. You can also register at www.sss.gov).

Eligible Institutions

Both in-state (Texas) and out-of-state colleges or universities may participate in the program.

Public, private, non-profit and certain career schools may participate in the program.

Award Amount

PELL award maximums for the 2016-2017 award year are $5,815. You can receive only one Pell Grant in an award year. How much you get will depend not only on your expected family contribution (EFC), but also on your cost of attendance (COA), whether you're a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. You may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Application Process

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The financial aid office at the college or university the student applied to will notify the student if he/she is eligible.

Additional Information

Your eligibility for this program is determined by the financial aid office at your college. Funds may not be immediately available to you at the beginning of the semester. Contact your college financial aid office for additional information on eligibility or availability of funds.

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